Roger L. Tarala, age 66, late of Blue Island, formerly of Dolton and South Holland. Beloved son of the late Edward and Mary (née Mancuso); f ormer husband of Toni Lynn (nee Bytnar); devoted father of Sean (Donna), Joseph (Lisa), Nicholas (Veronica), Sam (Ben) Bettenhausen, and Jeffrey (Kerry) Tarala; loving father figure of Stafford Owens; proud grandfather of Colin, Caden, Michael (Claire), James, Christa (Ryan) Romkema, Kara, Jeffrey, Matthew, Alejandra, Nico, James, Matthew, Will, Ruth, Anton, and Rosalie; dear great-grandfather of Anastasia, Augustine, and Felicity; caring brother of Marla (Curt) Malcom and Gregory Tarala; kind uncle of Antonio, Michael, Matthew, and Marc. Long time youth coach at St. Jude the Apostle, Dolton Boys Baseball, Thornridge High School, and Thornton Township High School that changed the trajectory of countless young men's lives.

Visitation Tuesday, 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Funeral Wednesday, 9:15 a.m. from Thornridge Funeral Home (Janusz Family Funeral Service) 15801 S. Cottage Grove Ave., four blocks North of 162ndSt. (Rte. 6) Dolton / South Holland to St. Jude the Apostle Church Mass at 10:00 a.m. Private Inurnment Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials directed to The American Diabetes Association, Thornton Alumni Legacy Fund, or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.